Top 9 Effective Home Remedies To Cure Asthma

Breathing is life – something most of us take for granted. But, only a person suffering from asthma can understand the true value of this simple life-giving process. Breathing problems can lead to all sorts of conditions, like bronchitis and asthma. Asthma can be life-threatening and is cause for serious concern. But with just a few natural home remedies, the recurrence of asthmatic attacks can be reduced to a great extent. You will be surprised to know that stuff off your kitchen shelves can help you keep those asthma attacks at bay.

Before we delve into the home remedies, let us know a few basics about asthma.

What Is Asthma?

When the airways get inflamed, they become narrower and very sensitive, causing a long-term lung disease called asthma. Even the minutest irritant can trigger asthma as the airways are already inflamed. Also, excess mucus is produced, which may further constrict your airways and cause difficulty in breathing, wheezing, and also a tightness in the chest (1).

Types Of Asthma

Asthma can develop due to different reasons and under different conditions. The various types of asthma, as classified by doctors, are listed below:

Allergic Asthma – Allergens in the environment can cause allergic rhinitis. When this leads to asthma, it is called allergic asthma.

Exercise-induced Asthma – When physical exertion leads to asthma, it is called exercise-induced asthma. The airways begin to constrict usually between five to 20 minutes of starting the exercise.

Cough-variant Asthma – With coughing as the main symptom, this type of asthma is usually triggered by respiratory infections and exercise.

Occupational Asthma – When the asthma is triggered only in your work surroundings, it is called occupational asthma. Animal breeders, farmers, hairdressers, and woodworkers are some of the common professionals who develop this type of asthma.

Nocturnal Asthma – Symptoms of asthma are aggravated during the night and can turn out to be very dangerous (2).

Let us now look at the various home remedies that you can use to get relief from asthma and its symptoms.

1. Essential Oils For Asthma

(a) Eucalyptus Essential Oil For Asthma

You Will Need

What You Have To Do

To use this, put a few drops of the oil on the towel and keep it beside you when you sleep. Position the napkin so that you can breathe in the aroma.

How Often You Should Do This

Use this remedy every night as a preventive measure for asthma attacks.

Why This Works

One of the best remedies for relieving congestion and a blocked nose, eucalyptus oil is an effective remedy for breathing problems. Eucalyptol, a chemical present in eucalyptus oil, helps break down mucus (3).

(b) Lavender Oil For Asthma

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need

5-6 drops lavender oil

A bowl of hot water

What You Have To Do

Add lavender oil to the hot water and inhale the steam for 5-10 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this once every day.

Why This Works

Lavender oil has been to shown to inhibit the inflammation of the airways and control mucus production. It soothes the air passages and strengthens the immune system (4).

(c) Tea Tree Oil For Asthma

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need

A few drops of tea tree oil

Face cloth

Warm water

What You Have To Do

1. Dip the face cloth in the warm water completely and then wring out the excess. 2. Pour the essential oil randomly on this damp cloth and inhale the vapors until the cloth comes back to room temperature.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this a few times until the asthma symptoms have vanished and you feel better.

Why This Works

The expectorant and decongestant properties of tea tree oil will work in relieving the wheezing and coughing and eliminating the excess mucus. This essential oil also possesses anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, which will help reduce the inflammation in the airways and treat any infections that are present in the respiratory system (5).

(d) Kalonji Oil For Asthma

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need

1/2 teaspoon kalonji oil

1 teaspoon honey

A cup of warm water

What You Have To Do

Add the kalonji oil and honey to the water, and drink this once before breakfast and once again after dinner.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this for 40 days for best results.

Why This Works

Kalonji oil is also called Black Seed Oil. The list of its benefits is endless. Its anti-inflammatory properties prove beneficial in the treatment of asthma. It is also used for the treatment of bronchitis (6).

(e) Oregano Oil For Asthma

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need

A few drops of oregano oil

Essential oil diffuser

What You Have To Do

Put the essential oil in the diffuser and inhale the vapors. Let the diffuser use up all the oil.

How Often You Should Do This

You can use this remedy every day to keep asthma symptoms at bay.

Why This Works

Oregano oil cleanses the lungs and the air passages. It thins the mucus and eliminates infection-causing bacteria and viruses (7).

2. Honey For Asthma

You Will Need

What You Have To Do

1. Mix one teaspoon of honey in the water and drink this slowly. 2. Swallow another teaspoon of honey with the cinnamon powder before going to bed.

How Often You Should Do This

Drink this honey water three times in a day. Have the honey and cinnamon mix every night before going to bed.

Why This Works

Honey is one of the oldest and most natural remedies for breathing problems. It contains alcohol and other oils that help alleviate the symptoms of asthma. It will help remove phlegm from your throat and allow you to sleep better (8).

3. Turmeric For Asthma

You Will Need

What You Have To Do

Ingest the turmeric along with water.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this thrice a day for 10-14 days. If there is no improvement in the symptoms, double the dosage.

Why This Works

Turmeric contains curcumin as one of its main components. This phytochemical is very beneficial as an add-on therapy to relieve asthma. It modulates the inflammatory response of the body and alleviates the inflammation of the airways. Turmeric is also an excellent antimicrobial agent (9).

4. Coffee For Asthma

You Will Need

What You Have To Do

Brew a hot, steaming cup of your favorite coffee and drink it.

How Often You Should Do This

Drink hot coffee as an immediate remedy to get relief from asthma.

Why This Works

Drinking coffee is the easiest way to treat asthma as it immediately eases up the airways and helps you breathe. Many swear by the positive effects of drinking coffee and recommend it as the quickest antidote for asthma. Caffeine in the coffee acts as a bronchodilator and opens up the constricted airways (10).

5. Vitamins For Asthma

You Will Need

What You Have To Do

How Often You Should Do This

Continue taking these supplements for a month. If there is still no difference, please consult your doctor.

Why This Works

Vitamin D supplementation has shown effective results in alleviating asthma symptoms. This is because of its anti-inflammatory action and its ability to enhance the body’s innate antimicrobial response (11). Even though sufficient data could not be collected to know if vitamin C helps in treating bronchial asthma, it did help in alleviating exercise-induced asthma symptoms. It was shown to improve the functioning of the lungs (12).

6. Ginger For Asthma

You Will Need

What You Have To Do

Grate fresh ginger and add it to the hot water. Let it steep for five to seven minutes.

Strain the water, add honey, and drink this herbal tea while it is warm.

You can also chew on a small piece of ginger a few times during the day.

How Often You Should Do This

Drink two to three cups of ginger tea in a day.

Why This Works

A herb famed for its anti-inflammatory properties for decades, ginger consumption is the best way to keep your respiratory tract healthy. This is the most common home remedy for asthma. Ginger relaxes the airway muscles and regulates calcium uptake, which in turn relieve the constriction and give relief from asthma (13).

8. Onions For Asthma

You Will Need

Raw onion

What You Have To Do

Chomp a few slices of raw onion with your supper to reap the benefits of this veggie.

How Often You Should Do This

Include onions in your daily diet.

Why This Works

Yes, onions are pungent, and can be a big turn-off to many. However, those suffering from asthma can benefit from onions. This vegetable that makes many cry can be a boon to asthmatics. It has anti-inflammatory properties and helps clear the airways (15).

9. Khella For Asthma

You Will Need

What You Have To Do

How Often You Should Do This

Take this thrice a day and once before going to bed. Continue taking this for a couple of weeks to notice the benefits.

Why This Works

Otherwise known as Bishop’s weed, this herb is often used for the treatment of asthma, bronchitis, and heart disease in Ayurvedic and Egyptian medicine. It has anti-histamine properties and prevents allergic asthma. It antispasmodic properties dilate the constricted bronchioles (16).

Caution

Khella is a preventive remedy for asthma. Khella is not for use in asthma attacks.

Before using any of these remedies, make sure that you are not even slightly allergic to any of them. And if you are, using them will only prove to be counter-productive in treating the asthma symptoms. If you are still doubtful, consult your doctor before using the remedy.

FAQs

1. What Causes Asthma?

They are many factors that can trigger and cause asthma. These include:

3. List Of Foods That Trigger Asthma

Foods that are allergens around the world are found to be responsible for triggering an asthma attack. The common ones are listed below:

Soy and its products

Milk and milk products

Peanuts and other nuts

Fish, shrimp, and other shellfish

Wheat

Gluten

Eggs

Food additives such as MSG (Monosodium glutamate) can also trigger asthma.

4. Diet To Follow For Asthma

The importance of a healthy diet cannot be contested. Incorporate fresh and organic fruits and vegetables in your daily diet and see the difference. Food rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals will ensure healthy functioning of the respiratory system. Some foods that are good for asthmatics are given below:

Steer clear of junk food and fried fatty food that can act as a trigger for an asthma attack.

5. What Exercises Control Asthma?

Just because you have asthma, it does not mean that you cannot lead an active life. Exercising daily, doing yoga, or going for walks and swims will help you to keep asthma attacks at bay. Cardio workouts like walking, cycling, or light running will keep your body fluids flowing and prevent excess mucus build-up in the airways.

Try to do these breathing exercises to keep your asthma under control:

(a) Simple breathing – Also known as diaphragmatic breathing. Lie down or sit with your back straight. Breathe in and out slowly. Your stomach should go out during inhalation, not your chest. While exhaling, your stomach should go in. (b) Buteyko breathing – Sit in an upright position with the chest and belly muscles relaxed. Take a long shallow breath and exhale slowly. Hold your breath for as long as possible. Then, continue breathing gently. (c) Pursed lip breathing – While in the simple breathing position, exhale through pursed lips like you are blowing a whistle. Exhaling should ideally be twice as long as inhaling.

These exercises can also be called chest exercises as they involve your chest muscles. Remember to not overexert yourself and your lungs while doing any type of exercise.

6. Are There Things I Can Change In My Life To Reduce My Risk Of An Asthma Attack?

A healthy lifestyle, which includes a decent diet and optimum levels of exercise, can definitely help reduce the risk of an asthma attack. Using home remedies such as garlic or khella can be effective preventive measures against asthma.

7. Does Stress Trigger Asthma?

Stress does not specifically trigger asthma, but it can make dealing with its symptoms worse and unbearable.

8. Can You Grow Into Asthma?

Asthma can affect anybody at any age. Usually, children develop asthma due to allergies, and adults grow into it due to lung infections or exposure to an irritant, especially at the workplace.

9. What Does Asthma Feel Like?

During an attack, an asthmatic experiences regular cough and wheezing, which leads to shortness of breath and tightness of chest.

10. Can You Get Lung Cancer From Asthma?

No! Asthma cannot develop into lung cancer. It can, however, lead to a severe respiratory condition known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

11. At What Age Do You Get Asthma?

People can develop asthma at any age, be it 5 or 50.

12. Is It True That Asthma Can Be Cured By Fish Therapy?

The fish therapy is administered in the city of Hyderabad, India, for asthma sufferers. The family that holds the secret of the herbs that are used and also many patients claim that this therapy, when taken for three consecutive years, can cure asthma. No research has been conducted on this therapy, and its effectiveness hasn’t been verified by experts. This therapy has become famous only by word-of-mouth and from patients who have benefitted from it.

We hope we have answered all your doubts about asthma, including the best home remedies for asthma/breathing problems. So, what are you waiting for? If you or your loved ones face breathing problems, you might want to think about including these in your daily routine.

Please share with us if you have any other cure or remedy in mind. Leave a comment below.

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